Tómas Gudmundsson

Tómas Gudmundsson, (born January 6, 1901, Efri-Brú, Iceland—died November 14, 1983, Reykjavík), poet best known for introducing Reykjavík as a subject in Icelandic poetry. His poetic language is characterized by Neoromantic expressions and colloquial realism.

Gudmundsson, who was born in the countryside, graduated in law from the University of Iceland in Reykjavík and subsequently became a civil servant in 1928. His first collection of poems, Vid sundin blá (1924; “Beside the Blue Waters”), caused no great stir but revealed his control of poetic form and an intelligent, thoughtful, slightly nostalgic voice. His next publication, Fagra veröld (1933; “The Fair World”), established him as an outstanding poet. It won immediate attention for its appreciation of the city and urban life, and Gudmundsson was unofficially adopted as poet laureate of Reykjavík.

Travel in the Mediterranean, afforded him by the city of Reykjavík, gave him a new stimulus, apparent in Stjörnur vorsins (1940; “Stars of Spring”). After 1943 he devoted himself to writing. From 1943 to 1946 and in 1954 he coedited a literary magazine, Helgafell. During this period Fljótid helga (1950; “The Holy River”) was published. It addressed many of the social issues that were brought to light by World War II and revealed Gudmundsson as a mature philosopher of loss and resignation, though his light touch and rich humour remained. An edition of his collected poems was published in 1953. His later works include Heim til thín, Ísland (1977; “Home to You, Iceland”), containing personal reflections on life and death, as well as several poems written for specific occasions. In addition to writing poetry, he translated works in German and Italian into Icelandic. Many of his own poems are in translation in the Scandinavian languages, French, German, and English.